Why I Feel Bite-Sized Learning Beats Out Traditional E-Learning

Bite-sized learning is a set of small modules from a learning curriculum/ formal training, which can be in any format, formally structured with clear learning outcomes, and easily manageable.

This form of learning is more effective on mobile devices and can be delivered effectively throu`gh mobile apps. According to the Journal of Applied Psychology learning in such smaller chunks can improve knowledge transfer by 17%. BBC in 2002 compared byte-sized learning with longer training sessions and found that learning in smaller chunks had greater retention and understanding among the learners. In this post, we will compare the bite sized learning with traditional e-learning courses, and find out why it is effective.

Why do you think bite-sized learning is more effective than traditional e-learning?

Nowadays most of the training managers have a challenge in understanding as to how to grab the audience attention. In the same way, while developing an e-learning course, the challenge is how to make the e-learning course more engaging and effective. It is also important to assess as to how much knowledge has been transferred to the learner.

Can we sit in one place and learn a course for about 90 minutes at a stretch? Do you think the learner will be engaged? Do you think the learner will be benefitted by the course? Do you think the learner can use this learning at his or her workplace?

I am sure that the answer to all the above questions is a definite “NO”.

The only way to get an “YES” as answer for all the above questions is to have Bite-Sized Learning.

Here are two examples for a better understanding on why bite-sized learning is a solution for the challenges at hand.

Take Hamburger and S’mores example: Most of the US people like to have S’mores than Hamburger. S’mores is easy to prepare than Hamburgers. Also, It will take more time to eat Hamburgers than S’mores. Consider Hamburger as a traditional e-learning course, which is of more than 90 minutes duration and S’mores as bite-sized learning’s not more than 5 – 10 minutes of e-learning.

As another example, take the Leadership Skills training; this e-learning course must be taken by managers. Most of the managers know that they are lagging behind in some areas but not all areas. If they need to undergo training, then they should be trained on their lagging areas. They do not have to go through an entire course. Also, managers don’t have the luxury of time to go through an e-learning course for more than 90 minutes.

If you have divided that 90 minutes e-learning to small-sized modules of less than 10 minutes each in any format, then they can take the learning irrespective of place, time and device. Also, their learning will be accurate; they can learn only the skills that they are lagging in. They can always refresh their memories about the other skills required to perform well in their jobs.

From the above examples, we can confirm that bite-sized learning is more advantageous than traditional learning.

Find below the advantages of bite-sized learning:

Development of bite-sized modules will save you both time and money.

It is easy for the learner to memorize 2 key learning points rather than 10 points from the whole course.

Small-duration courses helps the learners to focus more on the subject

Also, it is easy for the learner to select the modules, which he wants to learn from.

Bite-sized learning doesn’t give too much pressure on the learners.

As per the Journal of Applied Psychology in 1999, it is confirmed that learning by distributive approach increases the transfer of knowledge by 17%.

We need to standardize and create checklists and once the standardization is complete, the modules can be developed easily when compared to long e-learning courses.

As the technology is growing day by day, we cannot ask our employees to sit at one place continuously to have the learning; currently, we can develop courses that are compatible even on mobile devices.

For global companies, learners can be located at remote areas. In such cases, we will have less bandwidth for the Internet. If the duration of the course is around 90 minutes, then the size of the course is huge and we are likely to face loading issues. But when it comes to bite-sized modules, the module duration is very less. The size of the course will also be less and can be viewable even in less bandwidth. Hence, learners will be able to view the course just using their mobile devices.

When we consider a course in compliance, rules and policies keep changing over the years. Accordingly we need to update the course as well. It is also necessary for learners to redo the course to understand the changed rules and policies. If the course comprises bite sized modules, then all that we need to do is to only change the module that contains the updated policy and the learner too needs to go over only that small module.

Easy learning methods always attract more people to learn. Byte-sized learning works on the principle that learning is served at learners’ places and at convenient times. It’s a new age learning strategy that is expected to have a predominant influence in the training arena. So, what do you think? Will bite-sized learning be a game changer in the future, or will it only play a complimentary role to traditional e-learning?